5 Tips On How TO FIGHT Procrastination

By Laura Lipson
Published March 18th, 2014

Procrastination has a tendency to rear its ugly head at exactly the wrong time. Maybe you haven't been as productive as you wanted to be lately, or maybe an important deadline is looming at work or school. Whatever the reason, procrastination definitely has a tendency to make things get worse before they get better. However, it's important to realize that there are a number of things you can do to combat this phenomenon and get your productivity levels back on track.

Make a list of everything you want to accomplish. At the very least, this will help you stay on track and give you a visual way to determine exactly how far along you are on your goal. Cross things off the list as you complete them. As more and more things get crossed off, every time you look at that list you'll be a little bit more motivated to get to the end.

Unplug your television set, phone and other electronic distractions. This is especially true if you work from home, or are just trying to get things done around the house. Having the television on as background noise can be great, but it can also be an excuse to sit down for a "short time" that ends up turning into a long one. Likewise, a phone call or an e-mail at just the right time can kill your motivation.

Reward yourself every so often for working hard. There's a reason why employers give out bonuses and other types of rewards for jobs well done. They keep people motivated to continue working. Even if you're just trying to clean up around the house or get organized, a small reward of your own can do wonders for your own motivation.

Be realistic about what you're trying to do. If you were trying to remodel your house, for example, you wouldn't expect to get the whole job done in a single day. Likewise, don't try to accomplish every last piece of work you've ever been given all in a single day. Not only is it not possible, but it will only lead to feeling overwhelmed which will in turn lead to decreased motivation and the increased possibility that you'll procrastinate.

Don't be afraid to start a new project before your current one is finished. If you're trying to do laundry and clean your living room, for example, don't be afraid to start on the living room while a load is still running in the washer or dryer. If you're working on a writing project, for example, don't be afraid to start outlining the next one while you're still working on the current one. Multitasking is a great way to get more things accomplished in a shorter amount of time, which in turn will decrease the likelihood that procrastination will rear its ugly head once again.